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Troy Luff Medal - Semi Final

Welcome to the thirteenth - and third last - instalment of our Premiership year Troy Luff Medal count! Tonight, we look at a match that has already entered our club's rich folklore: the last-gasp semi final victory over Geelong. It's a match that will be forever mentioned when talk turns to great finals moments, and it's a match that will forever be synonymous with one name.

Stung but not broken by the cruel end to the qualifying final, the Swans returned to Sydney for their home final - and final home game - against the Cats. Geelong had started the season in fine form, and had briefly been flag favourites during the year. They had crashed to sixth with a poor second half of the season, but had smashed Melbourne in the first week of the finals. To overcome Geelong, it was crucial that the Swans put their frustration with the Subiaco result behind them.

From early in the match, it looked bad for the Swans. In a tight, scrappy and (dare I say it) ugly first half, Sydney were once again indirect and inefficient. They could manage only two goals six for the half, both in the first term. The damage was only minimised by Geelong's own inaccuracy. The Cats had kicked 5.8 at the main break, but were clearly the better side. With Matthew Scarlett smothering Barry Hall and the Geelong midfield clearly on top, only Jared Crouch, Nick Davis and the Sydney ruckmen flew the flag for the Swans.

After half time, the Swans loosened the shackles, as was necessary to get back into the game. The scoring opportunities began to flow as a result, but were repeatedly wasted. Only Michael O'Loughlin managed a goal as the Swans kicked 1.6 - a dismal 3.12 at the last break. The Cats, 17 points ahead and playing with confidence, seemed headed for a preliminary final berth. Sydney didn't have any answers, and were facing a straight sets exit from the Premiership race.

Except, of course, for one man. From the debris of three terrible quarters of football came Nick Davis to save the Swans. After the Cats seemingly put the result beyond doubt by kicking the first goal of the final term, Davis single-handedly stole it back. His first goal gave us a glimmer of hope. His second a few minutes later kept that hope alive. But the minutes were ticking away. The job seemed too big for one man.

Or perhaps Nick has a taste for the theatrical. With two minutes left, he gave us another glimmer with his third goal. Surely, we couldn't steal it. Yet surely we couldn't come so close and walk away empty handed. A ball up with seconds left gave us our last desperate chance, and Jason Ball got the perfect tap to a loose Swan. It was Nick. He was there, one more time, to give us our glimmer of hope.

Congrats to all five, particularly Jason Ball, who finally polls in his last season. Jason has given us good service since crossing from West Coast. Thanks Jason, and good luck. We couldn't have won our Premiership without you.

I think Kirky's got it wrapped up now, I can't see C-Bolt getting another 5 votes. He was very good on Riewoldt in the PF, but I think O'Keefe will get the 5 in that game, and he copped a knock early in the GF and had a fairly quiet game.

Kirky probably won't poll in the PF, as he had a quiet game after copping a Luke Ablett knee to the head, but may get some votes in the GF.

Vicky Pollard: Oh my god I so can't believe you just said that this is like the time I threw Anita's nokia in the canal as a joke and she's like you have well got to buy me another one and I'm like get over it and then Paul came over who's adopted anyway and started saying that I fancy Mark Bennett but oh my god just because I have sex with someone doesn't mean I fancy them.